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A five-day stay in Disney World will give you plenty of time to explore the four main theme parks and ride some of the most popular attractions. Plan your itinerary so you have time to visit each of the parks, and set aside some time for dining and recreation as well. If you are a first-time visitor, learn about each park ahead of time and target the rides and attractions that appeal to you most.

Visit One Park a Day

Plan to visit each of the four main Disney World theme parks -- the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios (formerly MGM) and the Animal Kingdom -- once during your trip. After you've seen each one, head back to your favorite park on the fifth day of your trip. Visiting one park a day allows you to spend plenty of time exploring and experiencing all of the rides and attractions each park has to offer. Visiting a single park each day also will save you money because you won't have to pay extra for a park-hopper ticket.

Use Fastpasses

Disney World offers a Fastpass for select rides in each of the four main theme parks, and it can drastically cut the amount of time you spend standing in line to go on some of the most popular attractions. Fastpasses are distributed at popular rides like Soarin' (Epcot), Splash Mountain (the Magic Kingdom) and Toy Story Mania (Disney's Hollywood Studios. To get a Fastpass, insert your park ticket into a Fastpass machine at the ride. You'll be issued a paper pass with a return time -- at the appointed time, you'll go right to the front of the line. Fastpass can help you see as many attractions as possible during your five-day trip.

Stay On-Site

Choose one of Disney's own resorts for your stay. Not only will you be close to the theme parks, but you'll receive some special perks as well. Guests of a Disney World resort enjoy the Extra Magic Hours program, allowing them to get into one of the theme parks an hour early (or stay an hour late) each day. Having this extra private time is a smart way to pack your trip itinerary with extra rides and fun. Disney resort guests also receive free transportation to the theme parks via bus, boat and monorail.

Build in Breaks

Even though there is plenty to keep you busy in the Disney theme parks, schedule some down time as well. You'll have more fun and be able to get more enjoyment from your trip if you are not frantically running from place to place. Disney offers many different recreational options, including pools, water parks, horseback and pony rides, live entertainment, miniature golf and boating excursions. Simply heading back to your hotel for a rest each afternoon will help you get the most from your Disney trip.

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About the Author

Sarah Emerald has been writing professionally since 1996. She is the author of books and magazine articles specializing in crafts, family, business and the home,, including Create and Decorate, Hilton Head Monthly and Crafts magazine. She has a Bachelor of Arts in English from a small private college in the southeastern U.S.

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